HEALTHY EATING AND MOVEMENT FOR A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE Erasmus Project

Project Title

HEALTHY EATING AND MOVEMENT FOR A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Health and wellbeing; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning

Project Summary

Context
Sedentarism, unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical exercise among school children represent a worrying problem which has arisen due mainly to the fact that in the past years technology has pushed children indoors. This aspect, doubled by the fact that parents are now too busy to cater for their children’s eating habits have increased the numbers of obesity cases among school children. In addition to causing various physical disabilities and psychological problems, excess weight drastically increases a person’s risk of developing a number of diseases and has a negative psychological impact.

Objectives
– To decrease the number of consumers of fast food in the target group by at least 50% after the 2 project years.
– To raise the awareness of at least 70% of participants about the principles of healthy eating;
– To increase physical activity to a minimum of 1 hour per day for 60% of students in the TG;
– to improve communication skills, interpersonal skills and self-confidence in a European environment of at least 65% of participants
– To exchange ideas and practices with other European schools in order for teachers to produce one brochure for students and parents and one brochure for schools.
– To develop the knowledge about the diversity of European sports and cultures of at least 70% participants.

Participants
The project addresses three target groups – the first one is that of students aged 5 -13, students with weight problems as well as regular students (the reason for the choice of this age range is that at these ages, students start developing long-term behaviours, so it is a critical age for the development of the future adults). They will be in the middle of all activities, both carried out at transnational level, in exchanges, and locally. The second group is that of parents – we will inform them about the project development and involve them in the local activities so as to raise their awareness about the importance of healthy diet for their children’s development. We want parents to join our activities, to observe their children in interaction, to see how happy they are and to determine them to continue this way of living at home, to involve their children in outdoor activities as much as possible. Thirdly, teachers who will participate in exchanges. They will be able to exchange experiences, to analyse the similarities, differences, identify good practices and apply them in their own schools. They will learn from their European peers and become resources for their colleagues in order to ensure the sustainability of the project results.

Activities
C1 – Lack of physical exercise and obesity – current trends in Europe (Nov. 2019, TR)
C2-3 – The topic of C2 is Obesity – causes and effects on the short, medium and long term (Mar 2020, ES)
C4-5 – You are what you eat – How to have a balanced diet (Oct 2020, BG)
C6-7 – Sports and physical activities to combat sedentarism and obesity tendencies (Mar 2021, PL)
C8-9 – Hiking and outdoor activities (May 2021, EST)

Results
We will produce the following concrete results:
1. Initial survey report and final survey report
2. Collections of materials produced after each LTTA – Causes and effects of obesity, Rules of healthy eating, Sports activities in different European countries, Outdoor activities that can be organized by the school and by parents.
3. Students’ journals
4. Brochure for parents and students about healthy diet and pastime dynamic activities
5. Brochure for schools with a shortlist of all the activities that can be performed by schools dealing with the same issues
6. 4 exchange reports in which we present the results of each exchange and measure the impact on students
7. 5 newsletters
8. Impact study at the end of the project.

Impact
The impact of the project consists of an increased awareness of healthy living and healthy eating on the part of students and parents in our schools. They will learn about the causes and effects of obesity, acquire ways to combat the tendency to sedentarism, be more open to spending time outdoors and to using their free time to do exercising in a playful way. In short, the students are expected to change their current unhealthy eating and living habits. As well as this, through direct participation in exchanges, students become more motivated, be more culturally aware and improve their communication, interpersonal, language skills. We expect them to develop a greater sense of tolerance and mutual respect.

Also, participating teachers become more motivated and develop on a personal level. They become more prepared and better equipped to deal with the problem locally. Through the exchange of best practices with their European peers, they are expected to develop professionally as well.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 95886 Eur

Project Coordinator

Kohtla-Järve Lasteaed Tareke & Country: EE

Project Partners

• EMIR SULTAN ORTAOKULU
• Szkola Podstawowa im. J.Lompy
• Sredno uchilishte “Peyo Kracholov Yavorov”
• FUNDACIÓN EDUCATIVA FRANCISCANA ANA MOGAS (Colegio Divina Pastora León)